Social Forestry

Booklet No 2 Forestry FS - 4 Contents Preface I. Forest Situation in India, II. What is social Forestry III. Objectives of Social Forestry IV. Characteristics of Social Forestry V. Scope of Social Forestry VI. Principles of Plant Selection VII. Plant Groups VIII. Constraints of Social Forestry IX. Model Social Forestry Programmes X. Why social Forestry Programmes Fail? XI. Role of Voluntary Agencies in Social Forestry XII. Conclusion Preface Social forestry in many places is planting a sapling in the same pit every year during the Vana mahotsava celebration. Lack of proper under standing and perspective is the main reason for the failure of social forestry programmes. These booklet intents to fill this lacuna. All section except on plant groups require very careful reading and discussion to understand in this booklet and to avoid getting the impression of being repetitive. The section on Plant Groups is only a model for people to classify trees in their own region. The reader should choose the local trees in their own region. The reader should choose the local trees in their own region. The reader should choose the local trees available first and only then search for exotic varieties. Dr. K. T. Chandy, Agricultural & Environmental Education. I. Forest Situation in India, In ancient times, the population was small and there was enough in the forests for satisfying everyones needs. As the population increased, more and more forest areas were destroyed for habitation, agriculture, fuel, timber, dams and industrial complexes. Shifting cultivation is still a practice responsible for forest clearance in the tribal areas Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and North-Eastern Hill Regions. Needless to say that the forest-based industries play a major role in the forest destruction, which takes place at an average rate of 1.5 million hectares per year. The first Indian Forest Act drafted in 1865 and the subsequent Acts and policies could not improve the deteriorating forest situation. Even after Independence, the forest policy of 1952 and Forest Bill of 1988 was as ineffective as the earlier ones. According to the government

sources the forest covers in India is now only 22% of the total geographical area of 329 million hectares as against the 33.35 the minimum requirement prescribed by the government. Many of the forest are in highly degraded condition and according to the National Remote Sensing Agency, forest in India amount to only 11% of the total geographical area. It is estimated that as much as 4,328 thousand hectares of forest land was diverted for non-forest use between 1951 and 1980 (see Table 1) Table 1: Forest Land Diverted (1951-1980) Sl No 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Purpose for which forest land diverted Agriculture River valley projects Industries and townships Transmission line and roads Others Total Area in hectares In 000 ha 2,623 502 134 61 1008 4328

Due to the increasing population and continuous dwindling of forest areas, acute shortage of major and minor forest products is being experienced. Tribals and the rural poor are the worst hit victims of this shortage as they depend on forests for their basic requirements such as food, fuel, fodder, and small timber and for supplementary income. Roots, tubers, leaves, flowers, seeds, fruits, tender shoots and mushrooms and small animals and birds from the forest from substantial amount of food for them. Several of these items when gathered in surplus enable them to earn some money to purchase other things. Latest forest policies hardly permit the people to enter the forest for collecting the above-mentioned materials, and tribals and rural poor people are deprived of even their livelihood. Social forestry was proposed as a solution to this problem. II. What is social Forestry, Mahatma Gandhi enunciated the concept of social forestry in a comprehensive form for the first time. According to him, a village must be established in such a way that the villagers can collect their requirements such as fuel wood, fodder, materials of thatch and bamboo in and around the village. Gandhiji conceived village as a functional unit of society and all its requirements including the forest products being produced and managed by the villagers. The term Social Forestry denotes any tree plantation, undertaken on private or common land, outside the jurisdiction of the India Forest Department to provide people their basic requirements, which they used to collect from forests. It is an activity designed for the benefit of the villagers in general and the poor and the disadvantaged among them in particular. Social forestry is a programmed of the people by the people and for the people.

Hence, strictly speaking, it refers to a collective management and utilization of under or unutilized common land to meet the requirements of the local people especially by the underprivileged.

III. Objectives of Social Forestry The objectives of social forestry are not only material but also human. They are: 1. To fulfill the basic requirements such as fuel, fodder, small timber, supplementary food and income from surplus forest products, 2. to provide employment opportunities and to increase family income considerable for alleviating poverty, 3. to tap the dormant energies and skills of the villagers for their own development by enabling them to manage their own natural resources, 4. to popularize economic tree farming along with crop farming, 5. to integrate economic gains in the distribution of other benefits to the socially and economically poor in a village, 6. to organize them in their struggle for socio- economic development, 7. to conserve soil and water and to maintain ecological balance by enhancing biomass generation, 8. to provide congenial environment to the tribal and to help them to preserve their cultural identity as their life and culture is intimately related to forest. 9. to reduce encroachment on the existing forests, 10. to inculcate the value of village level self-sufficiency and self management in the production as well as distribution of forest products with social justice, 11. to foster the spirit of cooperation and to encourage cooperative enterprises, and 12. to form the villagers into a well-knit community and an effective functional unit of society which can shape its own destiny. IV. Characteristics of Social Forestry, Social forestry in its broad sense is a programme of community forestry development and should be characterized by the following. 1. Involvement of the beneficiary from the planning to consumption stage, 2. Production and distribution of common forest products suck as fuel, fodder, small timber, fruits and other things which were obtained earlier from the forest, 3. use of community lands to produce such products, 4. adoption mixed production system i.e. grass, fodder, fruits and other things people require, 5. Maintenance of minimal government control in production, management and distribution of benefits,

6. Collaboration by the government, panchayat and voluntary agencies in the supply of inputs (funds, seedlings, materials and labour), 7. Measures taken to conserve soil and water, 8. An in built mechanism for recycling of organic matter and waste of the area, 9. Full use of all the natural resources in social forestry area, 10. Training components to make people to reflect both on the social aspects as well as technical aspects, 11. Educational measures to bring villagers together as a community based on the egalitarian values and 12. Encouraging people to help themselves not only to survive but also to develop. V. Scope of Social Forestry, In India 35% land remains unused or underutilized. This includes cultivable waste lands, permanent pastures and grazing land, land under miscellaneous tree crops, follow lands, barren and uncultivable lands and lands along road sides, railway lines, canal banks and drains. Most of these wasteland can be used for social forestry programmes. The catchment area of village percolation taken is an excellent place for social forestry plantation. Seasonal crops should not be cultivated in the catchment areas to avoid soil erosion and siltation. But implementation of a planned social forestry on the same area increases infiltration of rainwater, reduces siltation to minimum and augments water storage in the reservoir. Social forestry on the catchment area and its percolation tank from an ideal eco-system with a symbiotic relationship between them. The former increases water storage in the tank and avoids siltation whereas the latter supplies moisture to trees during dry seasons. The demand for fuel wood in India is steadily increasing. The estimated current firewood consumption is 157 million tones. Most of it is used for cooking. To cook 1 kg of food, 1.2 kg of fuel wood is required. This clearly indicates the need for producing more fuel wood than food. About 400 million tones of cattle dung, which is equivalent to about 60 million tones of fuel wood, is burnt annually in India. The annual loss of plant nutrients by this wasteful practice amounts to approximately 300 thousand tonne of nitrogen, 156 thousand tones of phosphorous and an equal amount of potassium. If cattle dung were incorporated into the soil instead of using it as fuel, it would increase food grain production by about 15-20 million tones. This can be achieved only when fuel wood is supplied to the rural poor in sufficient quantity. Fodder problem of livestock population needs immediate attention. The fodder available at present is very low both in quality as well as in quantity. It can meet only 23% of the protein requirement and 39% of the carbohydrate requirement of the livestock population. Growing perennial fodder crops becomes a necessity to solve the fodder problem. Similarly, seeds and fruits of some trees are excellent ingredients for concentrates. All these can be grown in social forestry. Small timber and bamboo are usually used by the poor for building and repairing their houses and for making agricultural implements, as cement, iron etc. are beyond their purchasing

capacity. The demand for small timber and bamboo will remain for a long period and will increase along with the increase in population. Social forestry can provide the rural poor with timber and bamboo. Similarly, social forestry can solve the food problem of the poor to a great extent. Certain edible fruits like cashew, mango, coconut and palms have high nutritional value and can grown under social forestry programmes. Social forestry can play a vital role in the reclamation of degraded lands, conservation of soil and moisture, improvement of agricultural production and prevention of environmental deterioration. VI. Principles of Plant Selection, Selection species is important for the success of social forestry. The selection should be based on the following criteria: 1. trees should be fast growing, early maturing and yielding, 2. they should have multiple usages ( for food, fodder, fuel, manures), 3. the tree trunk should be strong and stout, 4. the species should be suited to climate and soil of the place, 5. they should have dense foliage, 6. they should possess capacity to tolerate adverse climate and soil conditions, 7. they should have deep root system, 8. the leaf shedding should be in early spring and not in summer, 9. they should have coppicing capacity (ability to produce shoots from cut portion), 10. they should not have prominent thorns and 11. their planting and caring should be easier and economical. It is essential that the species selected for planting should be directly or indirectly related to the socio-economic needs of the people. Therefore, there must be full participation of local people in selecting species for planting. At the same time people have to be taken through the process of reflection and analysis to make them aware of the socio-economic conditions of the their life in relation to social forestry before they choose the type of trees to be planted. Planning should take into account not only the immediate needs but also the future increasing requirements. VII. Plant Groups, Trees can be grouped according to peoples requirements. For the selection of trees, people should identify locally available species first and then only go for exotic species. This principle should be kept in mind always before a species is selected for social forestry. One can always find at least half a dozen local species suitable to various needs of the people. Given below is a model classification of trees according to the needs of people and major agro-climatic conditions. However, the list is neither exhaustive nor the classification rigid or exclusive. The scientific

names with Hindi names in parenthesis are given in the classification. It is up to the people to identify local trees for various purposes and plant them. A. Fuel trees: Fast growth and high yield are the most important criteria for selecting firewood trees. Tress requiring 5-15 years to attain full growth are considered suitable for fuel production. Fuel wood can be grown by two methods: (a) coppicing (cutting and regrowing branches continuously). All the trees do not have regrowth capacity. Some fast growing cropping fuel trees are: alder eucalyptus, subabul, poplar and sallow. Some of the common firewood trees are classified climate wise though some of them are grown under a wide range of climatic conditions. 1. Tropical dry regions: (a) Acacia nilitica (Babul); (b) Albizia lebbeck (Siris) (c) Azadirachta indica (Neem); (d) Emblica officinalis (Amla); (e) Prosopis julifera (Vilayati babul); (f) Zizyphus mauritiana (Ber); and (g) Tamarindus indica (Tamarind). 2. Tropical humid regions: (a) Acacia nilitica (Babul); (b) Albizia lebbeck (Siris) (c) Azadirachta indica (Neem); (d) Casuarina equisitifolia (janglijhau); (e) Dalbergia sisoo (Shisam); (f) Ficus religiosa (Pipal); (g) Salix daphnoides (Willow); (h) Madhuca longifolia (Mahua); (i) Moringa olifera (Drumstick); (j) Tamarindus idica (Tamarind); (k) Leucaena leucocephala (Subabul); and (1) Mangnifera indica (Mango). 3. Subtropical regions: (a) Acacia catechu (Khair); (b) Grevillea robusta (Silver oak); (c) Populaus spp. (Popular); (d) Salix spp. (willow); and (e) Toona ciliata (Toon). B. fodder species: fodder species should be included in a social forestry programme to ensure balanced feed to the animals. Fast growing leguminous species are more valuable as fodder due to their high protein content( Subabul ). In addition to being a legume, trees with succulent and dense foliage with better silage making quality are preferred for fodder. Fodder trees are generally planted close and maintained in the form of a bush by repeated coppicing. Some of the fodder trees are classified according to climate. Tropical dry regions: (a) Acacia nilotica (Babul); (b) Leucaena leucocephala (Subabul); (c) Cordia rothii (Gondi); (d) Zizyphus mauritiana (Ber); (e) Albizia lebbeck (Siris); (f) Bauhinia vareigata (Kachnar). 1. Tropical humid areas: (a) Morus alba (Shatoot); (b) Moringa olifera (Drumstick); (c) Acacia nilotica (Babul); (d) Albizia lebbeck (Siris); and (e) Artocarpus heterophyllus (Kat-hal). 2. Subtropical regions: (a) Ficus religiosa (Pipal); (b) Toona ciliata (Toona); (c) Bauhnia purpurea (Lal kachnar, Kaliar); and (d) Acacia catechu (Khair). Fruit trees Choice of the local people should be given due consideration for selecting fruit trees in social forestry along with soil and climatic factors as the fruit trees do not florish unless they get a suitable environment. The objective for raising the fruit trees should be also ascertained. If it is for commercial purpose, marketing facilities should be first ensured. Following species can be grown according to the specific region. 3. Tropical dry regions: (a) Zysyphus mauritana (Ber); (b) Tamarindus indica (Tamrind); (c) Moringa olifera (Drum stick); (d) Emblica officinalis (Amla); (e) Carissa carandas (Karaunda); and (f) Ceratonia siliqua (Kharnub).

4. Tropical humid regions: (a) Anacardium occidentale (Cashew); (b) Areca catechu (Supari, Betelnut); (c) Artocarpus heterophyllus (Kat-hal); (d) Cocos nucifera (Coconut); (e) Tamindus indica (Tamerind)l (f) Madhuca longifolia (Mahua); (g) Embnlica officinalis (Amla); (h) Mangifera indica (Mango); (i) Moringa olifera (Drumstick); (j) Morus Alba (Shahtoot); and (k) Syzygium cumini (Jamun, Jambu). 5. Subtropical regions: (a) Litchi chinensis (Litchi); (b) Emblica officinalis (Amla); (c) Magnifera indica (Mango); (d) Psidium guajava (Guava); (e) Prunus persica (peach); and (f) Pyrus communis (Pear) C. Timber trees: Timber trees are of two types namely small timber and commercial timber for logging. For social forestry purposes, normally small timber is raised which is used for village housing for making farm implemts and tools handles. Here, too, the local species are given preference over the exotics. Some of the major timber speciaes according to their purpose, climatic requirements are grouped. 1. Rural housing and fencing: (a) Albizia lebbeck (Siris); (b) Azadirachta indica (Neem); (c) Cocos nucifera (Coconut); (d) Madhuca longifolia (Mahua); (e) Syzygium cumini (Jamun); (f) Dalbergia sisoo (Shisham ); and (g) Phoenix dactylifera (Khajur). 2. Big housing and furnitures: (a) Acacia catechu (Khair); (b) Acasia nilitica (Babul); (c) Cassia fistula (Amaltas); (d) Dalbergia sisoo (Shisham); (e) Madhuca longifolia (Mahua); (f) Pinus spp. (Pine); (g) Shorea robusta (Sal); (h) Tectona grandis (Teak); and (i) Terminalia arjuna (Arjun, Kahu). 3. Farm implements: (a) Acacia catechu (Khair); (b) Acacia nilotica (Babul); (c) Azadiracht indica (Neem); (d) Cassia fistula (Amaltas); and (e) Syzygium cumini (Jamun) 4. Tool handles: (a) Pongamia glabra (Karanj); (b) Leucaena leucocephala (Subalul); (c) Bambusa spp. (Bamboo); (d) Grewia oppositifolia (Bhimal); (e) Azadirachta indica (Neem); (f) Acacia catechu (Khair); (g) Acasia Nilotica (Babul) and (h) Dalbergia sisoo (Shisham) D. Trees for soil erosion control: for soil erosion control, planting methods and designs are more important than the kinds of tree. Generally trees useful for soil erosion control are classified. 1. Tropical dry regions: (a) Acacia catechu (Khair); (b) Acacia nilotica (Babul); (c) Albizia lebbeck (Siris); (d) Azadirachta indica (Neem); (e) Bambusa spp. (Bamboo); (f) Leucaena leucocephala (Subabul); and (g) Prosopis julifera (Vilayati babul). 2. Tropical humid regions: (a) Acacia catechu (Khair); (b) Acacia nilotica (Babul); (c) Albizcia lebbeck (Siris); (d) Azadirachta indica (Neem); (e) Bambusa sp. (Bamboo); (f) Leucaena leucocephala (Subabul); (g) Prosopis julifera (Vilayati babul); (h) Salix sp. (Willow); and (i) Pongamia glabra (Karanj) 3. Subtropical regions: (a) Populaus spp. (Poplar); (b) Eucalyptus spp, (Eucalyptus); (c) Bombax ceiba (Semal); (d) Azadirachta indica (Neem); (e) Dalbergia sisoo (Shisham); (f) Morus alba (Mulberry); and (g) Prosopis julifera (Vilayati babul).

Trees with the following characteristics are suited for soil erosion control: 1. profuse branching from the base (eg.Vilayati babul), 2. extensive root system (eg. Casurina) 3. trailing branches (eg. Cashew), 4. ability to produce saplings from cutting (eg. Shisham); and 5. tolerance to close growing condition (eg. Bamboo). E. Improvement of poor soils: Saline, alkaline, usar, waterlogged and marshy land constitute the poor soil. These lands cannot be used for agricultural purposes. Planting trees resistant or tolerating these types of soils, sill not only help in reclamation of soil, but also yield useful products like fuel or fodder. Planting trees on water logged areas will lower the water-table to certain extent. Following trees are suitable for the improvement of soils. 1. Saline, alkaline and usar soils: (a) Acasia nilotica (Babul); (b) Albizia lebbeck (Siris); (c) Azadirachta indica (Neem); (d) Butea monosperma (Dhak); (e) Casurina spp. (f) Emblica officinalis (Amla); (g) Madhuca latifolia (Mahua); (h) Morus alba (Shahtoot); (i) Pongamia glabra (Karanj); (j) Terminalia arjuna (Arjun), (k) Zizyphus spp. (Ber); (i) Prosopis julifera (Vilayati kikar); (m) Nerium indicum (Kaner); (n) Cassia fistula (Amaltas); and (o) Ficus religiosa (Pipal). 2. Short duration water logged areas: (a) Acacia nilotica (Babul); (b) Butea monosperma (Dhak); (c) Dalbergia Sissoo (Shisham); (d) eucalyptus spp: (e) Pongamia glabra (Karanj); (f) Terminalia arjuna (Arjun); (g) Syzigium cumini (Jamun); and (h) Salix spp. (Willow). 3. Damp and marshy lands: (a) Pongamia glabra (Karanj); (b) Salix spp. (Willow); (c) Popular spp. (Popular); (d) Casuarina equesitifolia (Jangli Jhau); and (e) Toona ciliata (Toona). F. Windbreaks: Windbreak refers to one or three rows of trees planted as a protective against strong wind. Windbreaks are planted perpendicular to the direction of the wind in the locality. In India, there are generally planted north-south direction to check the wind force from south-west and north-east. They reduce the wind velocity and consequent movement of sand and soil is arrested.. thus they (1) reduce soil erosion (2) conserve precipitation and (3) increase soil moisture. The following are a few examples of trees suitable for planting as windbreaks. 1. Dry and arid regions: (a) Albizia lebbeck (Siris); (b) Azadirachta indica (Neem); (c) Artocarpus heterophyllus (Kat-hal); (d) Pongamia glabra (Karanj); (e) Sesbania grandiflora (Agast); (f) Tamarindus indica (Tamarind) and (g) Tamarix dioica (Jhau). 2. Coastal areas: (a) Anacardium occidentale (Cashew); (b) Grevilea robusta (Silver oak); (c) Casuarina equisitifolia (Casurina), JangliJhau); (d) Saraca indica (Ashok).

VIII. Constraints of Social Forestry Several factors constrain social forestry programmes. Some of the more significant ones are mentioned below: A. Absence of comprehensive research findings on the suitability of certain species for various agro-climatic regions of the country, techniques for growing such plants successfully and economically, optimum spacing of trees, subsequent management and harvesting practices etc. is a major hurdle for social forestry. B. A remunerative support price for tree corps grown by beneficiaries is lacking. Instead the middlemen take away most of the profit. C. Rules and regulations regarding the harvesting, transport and marketing have to be simplified so as to eliminate hurdles in obtaining permission. For example, sandalwood production in Karnataka has been steadily decreasing despite the increasing demand. One reason for low production is absolute state control over sandal trees even on private lands. Similarly most of the trees except eucalyptus, babool, saijana and few others are forbidden to be cut and transported outside the village even by the producer himself without permission from the forest department. The farmer, there, is reluctant to grow these trees as he has no right either to cut or sell them. D. Harassment by government officials is another problem in the implementation of social forestry programmes. They demand illegal gratification from villagers for transporting and trading in minor forest products produced under social forestry programmes. Hence people are not interested in social forestry programmes. E. Most social forestry programmes are undertaken on community wastelands, roadside and canal margins where it is very difficult to grow and protect the saplings. Moreover, most of the plantations are very small in size and scattered making management and protection impossible. F. Encroachments of the land also deprive the poor from his due benefits. The rich and the influential people encroach and take possession of most of social forestry plantations and the poor are marginalized. People should be involved at every stage with real conviction and understanding. Otherwise they become mere workforce. Special task forces need to be mobilized in every region to create awareness among the people and to motivate them. It should be made a movement both in thinking as well in practice. For the success of social forestry it must become a peoples movement involving as many villagers as possible. G. Extension is a two-way communication between researches and people; better and new ideas about social forestry should flow from researchers to people and the people should provide the feedback to the researchers. At present there are neither such facilities nor competent personnel in extension methodology.

H. Lack of proper distribution system for the sharing of the social forestry products is yet another constraint. Neither government nor voluntary agencies have evolved an acceptable and equitable system of product distribution. I. Non-availability of required seedlings is another major handicap. Hence, people plant whatever they get which ultimately proves unsuitable to them.

IX. Model Social Forestry Programmes, Few models of social forestry progarammes are presented here. These case studies provide some insights into the way they have been planned and implemented. A. Bharatiya Agro-Industries Foundation, Urulikanchan, Maharastra: The Mahatma Gandhi Vidyalay, started in 1950, has been active in promoting afforestation. More than 2,750 students planted one lakh subabul trees for fodder and other uses in 1981. Eighty per of these have survived. Encouraged by this, they planted about 2 lakh saplings more in and around their farms and farmstead in 1982. The experiment shows the potential the school systems hold in strengthening social forestry programmes. B. Experimental social forestry in Garadgaon, Maharastra: Dr. Arvind G. Raddi and his colleagues prepared a social forestry scheme to make Garadgaon self sufficient in its fuel and fodder requirements. For this they utilized the funds available under the employment guarantee scheme of the state government. Through an informal survey they identified the following. 1. Total boundaries of the village land under cultivation was more 1,50,000 metres where 23,150 trees could be planted. Fodder grass could be grown in the space between these trees. 2. The village stream is 2.67 km and about 26,700 trees could be planted on its banks. 3. As many as 3,330 trees could be planted along the road to 1.67 km. A total of 3,730 trees could be planted if other small roads were also taken into account. 4. A nursery could be raised near the perennial stream. The total budget of the scheme was about Rs.4.25 lakh. Dr. Raddi estimated that 241.5 tones of fuel wood would be required every year (805 tree) for the whole village. Similarly, fodder requirement was also calculate. He thought of establishing a fuel wood depot and a fodder bank in the village to be managed by the gram panchayat. The progamme was implemented in 1979. By and large, the results were quite encouraging. This experiment successfully combined private initiative, proper use of the government wasteland and administrative resources for the community benefits. C. Government of Orissa: Orissa has a forest area of 38.44% of the total geographic area of the state. Although this is higher than the average forest area of the country, the rate of deforestation is also higher in the state. In 1983, Orissa Government in collaboration with Sweden started implementing the social forestry progamme in the state.

1. The aims of the programme were: a) to meet the fuel, fodder and other domestic needs of the rural population, b) to restore the ecological balance, c) to check soil erosion, conserve soil moisture and increase the soil fertility and d) to meet the needs of forest based industries. 2. The project had the following targets: a) Establishment of village plantation, b) Rehabilitation and replantation of degraded forests, c) Stimulation of private forest plantation through various assistance, and d) Exploring new possibilities for Forest Farming for Rural Poor. The social forestry programme, started in four districts in 1984-85, was extended to another five districts in 1985-86. The evaluation of the project shows that the achievements were much higher than the targets. The project was implemented in 5000 villages helping the people meet some of their basic needs improve the quality of their life. It inspired them for collective community management and sharing the benefits among the poor. D. Gram Vikas, Kolar, Karnataka: Gram Vikas is a voluntary organization set up by Dr. Arentha Iyer in the Kolar district of Karnataka. He motivated the children to plant trees adjacent to the school or balwadi. Following its success, men and women were urged to join the afforestation programme and nursery raising in a big way. 1. They decided to raise a nursery for: a) farm forestry of private persons e.g the Neyveli Lignite Corporation, b) the forest department for their distribution purposes, c) local requirements for planting trees under community woodlots programme, d) farm forestry-Casuarina and Eucalyptus e) community plantation- coconut, mango, jackfruit, medicinal plants, subabul and other trees for fuel wood; and f) fruit yielding trees, flower plants and trees for fuel wood near their houses. 2. Gram Vikas extended help to the people in the form of a) Initial capital b) Technical guidance c) Organizational support d) Animators and e) Introduction to various government officials f) The organization had to face several constraints such as (i) Lack of support and cooperation from the forest department,

(ii) (iii) (iv)

lengthy government procedures involved in the land distribution to people for affoestation shortage of polythene bags, and scarcity and poor quality seeds.

In the final analysis the success or failure of a project depends on its economic viability. From this stand point, this programme has been successful. The cost of production under this programme was Rs. 11 per 100 seedlings, whereas the sale price was Rs. 15 per 100 seedling in 1984-85 and Rs 20 in 1985-86. For the success of social forestry, it is essential to have a joint and collaborative effort of all the people. In the absence of assured support from the political, bureaucratic, panchayat and the local people social forestry cannot achieve its objective. However, direct economic benefit is the key to peoples participation in social forestry programmes. There is no substitute for peoples participation to make social forestry programme a success as proved by the pioneering projects in Gujarat. X. Why social Forestry Programmes Fail ? It is a fact that many social forestry programmes have failed miserably. Instead of presenting case studies, an attempt is made here to identify the common factors that lead to in the failure of social forestry programmes. Special effort is made to explain each factor separately for emphasis though some of them appear to be overlapping. 1. Lack of involvement of people: Often social forestry is started by the initiative of some persons without conscientising and motivating the people on the need to cooperate in it. In such cases people do not feel that the plantation is theirs nor do they feel responsible to look after it. 2. Absence of requirement and resource survey: Plantation is carried out without proper survey and assessment of the local resources (land, local species, labour, marketing, facilities etc.) and requirements of the people in terms of firewood, fodder, small timber, fruits and manure. Instead of selecting species according to the requirement of the people and agro-climatic conditions whatever available is planted. Hence social forestry becomes irrelevant to people. 3. Lack of awareness: There is a strong feeling among people that planting and caring of trees does not require any technical know-how. People say, Just dig a small hole in the soil, plant the seedlings or sow the seeds and they will come up by themselves. You see, in the forest no one cares for the trees and yet they come up. Theoretically this argument sounds convincing. But practically it is not true. Saplings planted in social forestry areas do require care and protection like small children. They have to be looked after and protected regularly at least for five years. Several operations should be carried out one by one during the first three to five years period after plantation. 4. Improper method of planting and caring: Method of planting influences greatly the survival and growth rate of saplings in a social forestry programme. The size and depth of pits and distance between them, planting design 9square, rectangular, diagonal,

hexagonal contour and random planting, (for more details consult Booklet No. 14, OMS3,Establishing an Orchard) size of seedlings, depth of planting soil and moisture conservation measures, weed, pests and disease control have to be planned and executed according to the soil, climate, rainfall, topography and location of the area. The only method of planting people adopt is to dig a hole and plant whatever saplings available. For more details about planting and caring of trees consult Booklet No.21 Planting & Management of Trees FS-6). 5. Lack of preparation: Proper planting requires sufficient preparation and planning. Pits have to be dug moths earlier if not an year ago, seedlings should be raised at least one year in advance according to the species and number required. Social forestry cannot succeed without planning and preparation. 6. Lack of target orientedness: Most of the social forestry programmes are implemented as a social even once a year. Every year Vana mahotsava (festival of forests) is celebrated mobilizing as many people as possible to pant as many trees as possible. It is celebrated with pomp and gaiety and is used as an occasion to politicize and socially organize people. The actual implementation part of social forestry is completely neglected. The result is that the social forestry area is left with empty pits. Every year Vana mahotsava is celebrated and saplings are planted. Even the prestigious Wasteland Development board, which was constituted to afforest 5 million hectares of wasteland per year, could not afforest one million hectare even in three years. Hence the remark: Vana Mahotsava is planting trees in the same pit every year. 7. Lack of technical education: Raising a suitable social forestry is a technical operation which necessarily requires technical know-how. Social forestry is a planned plantation utilizing land, labour, capital and plant and animal resources. Hence the planning has to be scientific and technically viable. To prepare a budget for a technically viable social forestry programme, one should have the technical know how without which he cannot make a proper financial proposal. Lack of proper technical know-how leads to: a) poor planning b) non-viable financial proposals (under or over financing), c) improper utilization of resources such as labour, lands, water, plants and animals, d) improper management practices and poor organization. e) Poor organization. Surely such social forestry programmes will fail. 8. Planting too small saplings: Normally one year old or one metre high saplings should be planted in the field. However, the practice is to plant very small saplings which may be only few months old. Those who raise the nursery do not like to keep the saplings up to one year because of additional expenditure and lesser profit. 9. Planting naked saplings: Naked saplings are those with bare roots or without a mud ball in the polythene bad. These are saplings, which are pulled out from the nursery, and in that process several roots get damaged. Besides there delay of several hours between the removal of seedlings from the nursery and planting in the field. During such long intervals the naked saplings wilt without water and nutrients and these cannot survive in the field. It is important that the saplings used for social forestry should be grown in the polythene bags or be removed with a mud ball from the nursery. (Consult Booklet No. 5.

Nursery Raising 5, FS-5 for details on Nursery raising of plants and Booklet No 6. Propagation of Fruit Trees OMS-4 for details of different methods of plant propagation). 10. Indiscriminate grazing: To ensure the success of social forestry, cattle should not be allowed to graze till the trees have grown beyond their reach. Cattle can browse one-yearold saplings. That means the time, labor and capital spent during one year is wasted. 11. Exploitation: When social forestry programme starts yielding, the rich and powerful of the place misappropriate the yield leaving the poor with nothing. 12. Poor or no marketing facilities: People will not work for social forestry unless it is paying to them. Adequate remuneration for the work and the product is everyones right. Unless marketing is organized and prices are stabilized it will be impossible to obtain adequate remuneration for every one in social forestry programmes. 13. Lack of a suitable administrative system: Malpractices and exploitation by the rich and powerful in the distribution of social forestry products occurs mainly because there is no alternative body authorized to handle the distribution. Each operation in social forestry such as protection, maintenance, harvesting distribution should be administratively streamlined and should not be left to the rich and powerful. 14. Lack of legal protection: People who are involved in social forestry should get their rights. Sufficient legal safeguards should be ensured to protect the legal rights of the beneficiaries of social forestry programmes. Illegal occupation of land, misappropriation of social forestry products should be prevented by legislation. Clear laws should be formulated regarding social forestry. 15. Lack of vision: Often social forestry is implemented as an end in itself for meeting the basic, immediate needs and to generate additional income. It should further move into village level processing social forestry products and agro-industries based on them. These in turn will give rise to other enterprises in marketing, storage and transport resulting in more employment opportunities for unemployed youth. Thus one should go beyond the mere physical implementation and management of social forestry. 16. Lack of soil and water conservation: Like any other plants in the nature soil and water are the basic requirements for the growth of trees in a social forestry. Though conservation of soil and water one of the main objectives of social forestry programme, the successful establishment and growth of saplings up to five years require special attention to the soil and water conservation practices which are seldom included in the programme (Consult Booklets on Soil and Water Conservation Nos. 1 to 15),

XI. Role of Voluntary Agencies in Social Forestry The role of voluntary agencies may be described as follows. 1. Voluntary agencies can play a pivotal and catalytic role in the social forestry programme. First of all, they can educate people by providing an analysis of socioeconomic aspect of their like in relation to the minor forest products such as fuel, fodder, small timber, leaves for various purposes and seeds, flowers, fruits and tubers for food. They can make the people realize the need to reproduce minor forest products themselves instead of gathering them. Further, they should highlight the interrelation of trees with water, soil, other plants, and animals, the environment and finally man himself. Voluntary agencies themselves must become familiar with environmental analysis to fulfill this function. 2. Voluntary agencies should become the real representatives of the locality. They should take leadership in the beginning but gradually build up leadership among the people and withdraw entrusting the entire responsibility to them. But this process will take several years. Voluntary agencies should have a thorough knowledge about the people, the needs and resources of the people before starting social forestry programmes. 3. They should act as mediators between the people and government departments. People should be introduced to government officials so that they can interact with the officials. Voluntary agencies should make them articulate their demands to the government officials and whenever there arises any problem of communication they should help both the people as well as the officials. Voluntary agencies should help both the people as well as the officials. Voluntary agencies should, as far as possible, choose the path of collaboration rather than confrontation with government officials. However, they should not yield to bureaucratic pressure sacrificing the interests of the people, which must be their prime concern. 4. Voluntary agencies should be familiar with details of the various government-aided schemes for social forestry programmes. Besides they should be familiar with all the legal rights and durries of the people in relation to social forestry and they should explain these to the people. 5. For the rural poor, seeing is believing. Hence voluntary agencies should take up social forestry programmes in one or two places and demonstrate the ways and methods, which people can follow easily. 6. Voluntary organizations should involve the people from the beginning till the end. Let the people hear, see, do reflect and understand. Let the results speak for

themselves and allow the people learn at their own pace. Observe the dynamics that operate among them as they go through the process of learning by doing. Nothing should be forced on them but every step must be explained. Understanding and conviction will take its own time to creep into their mind. 7. Once the process of demonstration is over and if people convinced of the usefulness of social forestry programmes they will be ready to start the programme themselves. They require various inputs such as seeds, seedlings, implants, polythene containers, capital, organization and planning. Often people are cheated in the procurement of various inputs. Voluntary agencies should help people procure all the inputs for social forestry at reasonable prices without sacrificing quality. 8. The inputs are of no use if the people do not know how to use them. Hence it is imperative that voluntary agencies should impart appropriate technical know-how to manage the inputs. Many social forestry programmes fail due to lack of technical know-how so as to maintain a dependency syndrome. 9. Voluntary agencies should allow the people to become self sufficient and slefcompentent at every stage in the execution of the programme. Their dependency on government officials and various technicians should be minimized and finally eliminated. They should not even depend on the voluntary agency itself. This means greater emphasis should be laid on the learning part in social forestry and not merely on doing it so that they become self-reliant in carrying out the project. 10. Voluntary agencies should make use of social forestry as a tool for education. If social forestry programmes are well made use of well, they can unfold immense possibilities of educating people informally on society and environment. People can be taught how man depends on nature, how he depends on others and how human exploitation can be checked. They can be taught about soil, water crop plants, domestic animals, soil erosion and conservation or water, depletion and conservation. It will be a wonderful exercise of learning from experience. 11. Voluntary agencies can use social forestry progammes as a means to organize the people into a community, which reflects together, discusses their problems, searches for solutions, takes decisions, implements collectively and share the products equitably. 12. Voluntary agencies should help people to make use of all their resources to the maximum. Under utilization of resources is equal to not having them, because, eventually these resources will reach the hands of the rich and powerful. 13. Voluntary agencies should make sure that in the social forestry programmes each one performs not more than one function. It is a usual practice that a farmer is a buyer of various inputs. He is the storekeeper, manger of various inputs, organizer, producer, labourer, harvester, processor and salesman. Whereas in industry and services each

function is carried out by different people. It is simply impossible for a man to perform all these functions. Different people should perform the various functions such as procurement of inputs, nursery raising, planting and caring of trees, harvesting, marketing and processing. If one is a producer, he should be busy with looking after the plants and should not devote himself to sales as well; he will do neither properly. 14. People are mostly cheated in the marketing of the products. Either they are forced to distress sell or they are given a very low price besides being duped in measurement and weighing. People in dire need of money would agree to any terms and conditions a merchant-cum-money lender puts forth. The main reason for this is the lack of organized marketing facilities. Hence voluntary agencies should emphasize on the organization of marketing of products to eliminate the middlemen. They should influence the government to fix a fair and steady price for each commodity. 15. Often the products are sold as raw material at very low prices. After the primary processing, prices become double or triple. Voluntary agencies should arrange facilities for primary and secondary processing at the producers level itself. This will not only fetch a handsome price but also generate employment for the people. People will learn to gain and mange their own products. 16. Voluntary agencies should ensure that social forestry programme becomes a developmental progamme and not merely a survival programme. People should develop socially and economically as a result of the implementation of social forestry programme. Their children should never have the same fate (illiteracy) as their parents. Hence the following schemes should accompany any social forestry programme. a) the sponsoring organization should also ensure the formal education of the children of the beneficiaries of social forestry programmes. The future generation should have better prospects in life. This possible only if they are educated. b) Saving schemes and credit society should be given due importance. The demand for money is always on the increase. Unless saving habit is inculcated in the people, what ever they earn will be spent altogether. People should be motivated to accept that expenditure is income minus saving and not saving is income minus expenditure. c) When education and saving is combined, paths are opened for a number of vocational training for youth. All cannot depend on the primary occupations such as social forestry, agriculture, animal husbandry and collection of minor forest products. Hence the future generation should be prepared to go into diverse occupations. Thus beginning with a social forestry programme, voluntary agencies can take the beneficiaries through a process of real human development. XII. Conclusion

As Gandhiji visualized, every village should be self-sufficient in its daily requirements such as food, fuel wood, f odder, leaves, manures, fruits, fibre and small timber. A well implemented and managed social forestry progamme can meet these requirements of a village besides additional income can meet these requirements of a village besides additional income from the sale of the surplus products. Thus social forestry can play an important role in the village and rural development. Further, it can maintain the ecological balance; prevent degradation of environment such as soil erosion and water depletion. Social forestry established on the catchment area of village percolation tank becomes an ideal ecosystem with a symbiotic relationship between them. Such an ecosystem will have a direct impact on the agricultural and animal husbandry production of the area. Social forestry also generates employment. Social forestry projects are meant to bring about social change to climate economic disparity and to ensure more equitable distribution of income and make people self reliant and independent. ===============================